Smyrna times., 1887-11-30

Il beg pardon, sir, " said Burns, in an
offended manner, 81 am a married man."
''By Jovel so you arel' said Roland
Wayne, with a laugh. II had forgotten
that. Though" he added, humorously,
''that doesn't always make difference.
Well, try her, anyhow. Where is the
mail, please?'
81 tell you what, Burns" one of the
other clerks observed, when that indi-
vidual finally emerged from Mr.. Wayne's
office, ''the boss is in fly humor, isn't
he?"
He's all right" Burns answered,
warmly. ''He has given me ticket to
Atlantic City and two days Off"
The clerk whistled.
''Why, thought he was going to take
your head off"
"You don't know him. 1 am sure it is p
no shame to a man whose nerves are
always twinging with neuralgia if he loses
his temper now and then"
Roland meanwhile had taken up his pen
and was writing a lengthy account of
Brisket's new deal in p. Y and ~:
''If the cat jumps this way, /" he said, in
conclusion, ''the bears have got him sure.
Danbury is on cur side He has given
Brisket the cold shoulder, and, if I'm not
mistaken, somebody will get wofully left
don't intend that it shall be l. If every-
thing goes as think it will, l shall pocket
$500, OOO and then am going to get out
of the brokerage business. 1t doesn't suit
me, and my health is so poor that l must
get away somewhere or ] shall 20 to
pieces
II beg pardon, sir, " said soft, tremu-
lOus voice at his elbow, 81 am Miss
Archer, Mr.. Wayne"
Roland dropped his pen, and rose polite
ly as he saw sliglh, graceful figure in
black standing before him.
BE seated, Miss Archer" he said, with
q smile which no man could have with
held when he saw the fairness of her
young face and that shy, sweet flush Oh
her cheeks. "What can do for your
Il am the telephone operator, " she be-
gan, rapidly, and with nervousness she
could not conceal. 'I-I could not helm
hearing what you said to Mr.. Burns a lit
tie while ago, and came to say that if
you arc not satisfied to have me stay in
the Office you need only say So"
Not satisfiedr' Roland echoed, III man
ifest confusion. "Well, really, you know
have not given you a trial; and as to
what said little while ago 1 am sorry,
Miss Archer. l am afraid you will have
to set it down to neuralgia. ! am quite
willing to have you stay, if you will
you are very kind, she said, lacing
and unlacing her fingers in some CON
fusion. i should like to stay-indeed, it
is very important that should have this
position, or something else. But if what
you say is true-if a brokers' office is no
place for a wOman-I-I think l would
rather not stay"
oh Il
when he thought of his careless words.
and then marked how her lips auivered.
how her eyelids dropped to keep back the
unshed tears!
Il think l spoke too hastily, Miss
Archer" he said. ga lady's place is
where she makes it. We are not a lot of
savages," he added, with q warm smile.
III you remain here think / can insure
you courteous and cOnsiderate treatment
on the part Of every one in this Office If
such is not accorded you, you have only
to inform me, and / viii know the reason
why"
''You are very kind, " said Miss Archer,
with bright, fleeting smile. ''I should
like TO stay. 1 really cannot afford to re-
sign my position"
land.
And, to the edification Of his clerks. he
got up and opened the door for her when
she went out
After that he often caught himself lis
tening to the soft yet distinct voice in an
other room holding conversations over the
phone.
When he was at home with one Of his
Of neuralgia and had to commune
cate with the Office by wire he often re-
marked how well he could hear Miss
Archer's voice, when all the others ebbed
away like Babel Of sound.
BURNS did fine thing when he got
that girl in the Office" he unused one day.
when he was kept a prisoner very in
oPportuncly. 81 don't know what we'd
do without her-now especially It's bad
enough as it is. couldn't have had this
attack at n worse time. But l guess
everything is all right. Danbury's good
for any amount this side of a million. By
Jove, though, it would be rough on me If
anything went wrong nOwl 1t would clean
me out completely"
He was walking up and down the room,
trying to repress the nervous agitation
which attacked him.
Seven O'clockr' he said, CHANGING at
the time. '"The Office is closed long ago.
In another hour BrislIet will sign over
those bonds, and then-Hellol what's
thatg'
The shriIl alarm Of the telephone sum
mOned hir1 across the room.
There is no one at the Office, - he
thought, taking up the receiver. 81 won
der what's upnow' Hellol Waynel Who
arc your
''It is Helen Archer, Mr.. Wayne" said
u voice which lac knew quite well.
why, what are you doing in the Office
at this time Of nightg' he exclaimed in
voluntarily.
81 am not at the ofice-that is, not at
your Office lam ut the Central station.
Can you hear me2''
eyes"
Il have something important to tell
you Our wire got crossed with Mr..
Brislet's to-day, and l could hear every
word said over it. / could not understand
what they were talking about, only Mr..
Brisket was talking to a man named Daa-
bury"
'.Danburyr' exclaimed Wayne, in great
excitement.
..They were talking about bonds, and
said q lot Of things IcOuldn't comprehend:
but at last your name was mentioned.
This viii put Wayne in hole, Mr.. Bris-
ket said. Yes, said Mr.. Danbury ft'n
bury him alive. It Is good thing he's
shelyed tonight. There Is no danger, 1
suppose, Of his getting wind Of this before
5o'clock1 No danger at all, said I3ris-
ket, IL you don't 80 back on me, There
viii be new deal all around, and wen
boost the market over Wayne'a head
Do you hear what / sayg" she interrupted.
yes, yesp' Wayne said, excitedly
''What elsef'
Nothing more thas could understand,
except that they were TO meet at the Con-
tinental hotel tonight at O'Clock.
came here because was afraid to talk
nom the Office. I thought some one
might get on our wire. and have youhere
direct. That's all Good-by,p
For Roland Wayne to dress and leave
the house was a matter Of very short
time after he had received the message
from Helen Archer. His illness and the
danger Of exposure were quite forgotten.
He was present, very unexpectedly TO
Mr.. Briskct and Mr. Danbury, AZ the
evening conference at the hotel
It was Q stormy scene that ensued be-
tween Roland Wayne and these two men
who had combined against hinl-o scene
from which the Young broker issued pale